Unwinding and folding machine



P. W. JESPERSEN UNWINDING AND FOLDING MACHINE Oct. 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1950 1954 P. w. JESPERSEN UNWINDING AND FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1950 1954 P. w. JESPERSEN UNWINDING AND FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1950 izuimyerseq Oct. 1954 P. w. JESPERSEN UNWINDING AND FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 10, 1950 In z/rz for". I501 MZgva8q m PE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 P. W. JESPERSEN UNWINDING AND FOLDING MACHINE Oct. 12, 1954 Filed March 10, 1950 Ina/2272221 Z Mia vars era.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNWINDING AND FOLDING MACHINE Paul W. J espersen, Wilmette, 111., assignor to American Linen Supply (30., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Nevada Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,777

The present invention relates in general to folding machines and, more particularly, to a novel automatic folding machine which is arranged to fold a relatively long web of material into predetermined lengths as the web is unwound from a storage roll. The novel machine is especially adapted for preparing soiled toweling, of the roll type, for a laundering operation by unwinding the toweling from the roll and folding it into zigzag layers, After the toweling has been folded into layers, it may be tied to form a relatively loose bundle before it is deposited into a washing machine.

In a folding machine of the type heretofor used by laundry companies to prepare roll toweling for the washing operation, a roll of toweling containing approximately fifty yards of toweling was placed into an open top trough-like container. The free end of the toweling was passed upwardly and over the top of motor driven feed rollers and then through an oscillating duct-like member. The oscillating duct member directed the strip of toweling, as it was fed from the feed rollers, so that it dropped in layers on a flat horizontal table. After the toweling had'been fed through the machine in the manner described above, the operator gathered the folded toweling at one or more points between the ends thereof and loosely tied the toweling at the gathered points with a flexible cord. The toweling was in this manner transposed from the form of a roll into a plurality of fiat folded layers and then bound to form a readily washable bundle.

One of the principal objections to the prior machine of the type noted above is that the open top trough, into which a roll of toweling was placed, permitted the roll to be inadvertently pulled out of the trough during. the unwinding operation. Each time the roll was pulled out of the trough, it was necessary to shut down the machine, untangle and rewind the toweling onto the roll by hand and again restore the roll into the trough of the machine.

Another objection to the prior machine was that the manner in which the duct member was constructed caused the toweling to frequently be pinched between the feed rollers and; the More specifically, the duct memberfor duct. guiding the toweling as it was fed from the feed rollers, Was an open ended rectangular chimneylike metal structure having long oppositely disposed side walls and short oppositely disposed end walls. It was pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement at points located immediately 11 Claims. (Cl. 27079) below the horizontal plane of the feed rollers and in vertical alignment with the toweling as it was fed from the feed roller. Consequently, when the toweling was fed from the feed rollers through the metal duct member, the oscillatory movement of theduct member guided the toweling sothat it fell upon the work surface in folded layers. As the duct member was oscillated in one direction it substantially closed the space between the top edge of one wall of the duct member and the surface of one of the feed rollers thereby to guide the toweling in one direction. At this instant the top edge of the opposite wall of the duct member was rotated away 1 from the other feed roller leaving a substantial gap into which the toweling frequently folded as it was fed from the feed rollers. When the duct member oscillated in the opposite direction, the portion of the toweling that was folded into the gap noted above was pinched or caught between the edge of the duct member and the associated feed roller. This caused the machine to jam and on many occasions tear the toweling. The folding operation of the machine would be thrown out of. synchronism and thus caused considerable delay before the machine could again be placed into operation.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved unwinding and folding machine which is economical to manufacture, which is simple to operate and which obviates the objections described hereinbefore.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an unwinding and folding machine an improved mechanism for unwinding the roll of soiled toweling by passing the outer web thereof across the open top of the roll supporting trough and thereby restrain the roll from inadvertently pulling out of the trough as the toweling is unwound from the roll.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a towel unwinding and folding machine an improved oscillating mechanism for guiding the toweling as it is fed from the machine so that it falls into flat folded layers of predetermined lengths upon the work surface.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a towel unwinding and folding machine an improved oscillatory towel guiding mechanism of the type noted above which is constructed and arranged to prevent the toweling from being caught or. trapped between the feed rollers and. the top edges of the towel guiding mechanism during the oscillatory movement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a towel unwinding and folding machine an improved oscillatory towel guiding mechanism of the type noted above which comprises two laterally spaced-apart members each of which is independently pivoted adjacent one of the feed rollers to eliminate any gap therebetween in order to prevent the toweling from being caught or trapped between the feed rollers and the oscillating members as the toweling is fed from the feed rollers.

It is a, still further object of the invention to provide in a towel unwinding and folding machine an improved work surface having outward- 1y extending spaced apart, substantially V- shaped supporting hooks into which the folded toweling may be gathered by the operator so that the folded toweling may be readily tied into a washable bundle.

Further objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structural arrangement of the towel unwinding and folding machine whereby the above-outlined objects and additional operating features are attained.

The present invention both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the improved towel unwinding and folding machine and illustrates the manner in which the toweling is folded as it is fed from the upper portion of the machine onto the work surface thereof;

Fig. 2 is a right-hand end view of the machine illulstrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. l with a portion of the guard cover broken away in order more clearly to illustrate the details of the drive mechanism for the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken alon line 4-4 of Fig. 5 and illustrates the mounting arrangement and the detailed construction of the pressure roller that cooperates with the driven roller of the machine to feed the web of toweling therethrough;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2 of the upper portion of the machine, with the guard cover removed, and illustrates the drive mechanism for operating the oscillating spreader plates;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-3 of Fig. 5 and illustrates further details of the mechanism for oscillating the spreader plates in order to fold the toweling web as it is fed from the machine;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line ?--I of Fig. 2 of the upper portion of the machine and illustrates the manner in which the toweling is fed through the machine;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--i3 of Fig. 5 and illustrates the mounting arrangement and the detailed construction of the driven feed roller;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-4! of Fig. 3 and illustrates the manner in which the spreader plates are linked together for simultaneous oscillatory movement;

Fig. 1G is an enlarged partial front view of the work surface of the machine illustrated in Fig.1;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line HH of Fig. l and illustrates a partial top view of the work surface and the V- shaped towel rests;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken along line l2-l2 of Fig. 11 and illustrates the manner in which the work surface and the V-shaped towel rests are secured to the supporting frame assembly; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line iii-l3 of Fig. 5 and illustrates the detailed mounting arrangement of the pinion gear and the associated drive pulley.

The supporting frame for the towel unwinding and folding machine comprises four upright channel members 21a to 2 id, inclusive, and a pair of angle braces 22a and 22b which are respectively secured, in any desired manner, between the channel members 2la2ld and 2ib2lc. The angle braces 22a, and 22b are provided with bolt holes therein to permit the machine to be anchored to the floor.

In order to provide a convenient work surface for the machine, the front channel members 2m and Zlb are only of sufficient length to support the work surface 23 at a convenient work level. The work surface may either be arranged at a level which would require the operator to remain seated or, as an alternative, it may be arranged at a level which would require the operator to remain in a standing position. The particular level that is selected is a matter of choice.

The rear channel members 210 and 2 id extend upwardly from the floor beyond the level of the work surface 23 and are spaced apart sufficiently to support the entire unwinding and folding mechanism 24 in the manner to be described hereinafter.

As is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12, the work surface 23 is supported upon the upper ends of the front channel members 2m and 21b and it is secured to the rear channel members 2lc and 2 id by means of the angle supports 25a. and 25b. The angle supports 25a and 251) are welded to the upper portion of the front channel members 21a and 2th and to the rear channel members 2ld and 2 lo, respectively, in the manner best illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12. A flat front plate 25 is welded between the front edges of the channel members 21a and 2 lb in order to secure the two channel members rigidly in place and in order to provide a front supporting edge for the work surface 23. In addition to the foregoing, a rear channel support 27 is welded between the inner facing surfaces of the rear channel members He and Zid in order to provide a rear supporting bracket for the work surface The work surface 23 includes a plurality of angle members which are welded together to form a rectangular metal framework and a flat thin metal plate 28, having upturned side rails 28a. and 28?), which is secured to the angle framework by means of rivets, screws, or the like.

The plate 28 is formed at opposite ends with the upturned side rails 28s and 28?), as is best seen in Fig. 1, in order to prevent the folded layers of the toweling from sliding off the work surface 23. In this connection, it should be noted that the work surface 23 is formed to provide a raised central flat portion which is horizontal with respect to the floor, and two opposite downwardly sloping surfaces. With this arrangement the weight of the opposite ends of the folded toweling pulls downwardly and outwardly along the sloping surfaces and tends to stretch the toweling into fiat layers.

A pair of V-shaped brackets 29a. and 2% are secured respectively to the front sloping edges of the work surface 23 and an elongated V-shaped bracket 290 is secured to the front horizontal edge of the work surface 23 by means ofrivetsscrews, or the like. The above mentioned V-shaped brackets 29a to 290, inclusive, provide a support for the folded toweling after it has been gathered together.

The unwinding and folding mechanism 24, illustrated in the upper portion of Figs.-1 and 2, is shown in greater detail in Figs-3,: Sand 7. Referring specifically to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the left-hand portion of the mechanism 24 includes a trough assembly three towel smoothing or idle rollers 31a, 3 lb and 310 and oppositely disposed smoothing roller-support brackets. 31d and 3le. The right-hand portion of the: mechanism 24 includes a driven roller 32,.a pressure roller 33 and a towel oscillating mechanism :34.

The entire unwinding and folding mechanism 24 is supported between the upper ends. of the two rear channel members He and 2 Id by means of a plurality of bolts 38, as is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. With this method ofsupporting the unwinding and folding mechanism 24, the major portion of the mechanism. is positioned directly above the central portion of the work. surface 23, and the trough assembly 30 is positioned above the right-hand portion of the work surface 23. In Fig. 7 it will be. seen that the trough assembly 30 includes a pair of oppositely disposed side plates 30a and 3%, an outer panel 300 and a towel trough 30d. The side plates 30a and 3022 are respectively secured to opposite ends. of a main supporting plate by means of the bolts 39 which are screwed intov appropriate tapped holes in the plate 35. The decorative outer panel 30c is secured to the side plates 30a and 301) along the bottom edges and left-hand edges thereof by means of a plurality of screws 3'! which are screwed into appropriate tapped holes in the respective side plates. The toweltrough 30d; is supported at the upper left-hand edge of the decorative outer panel 300, as is shown in. Fig. 7, by means of a plurality of screws 4 l. and the opposite end of the towel trough panel 300! is formed in accordance with the contour of the roll toweling 40.

The previously mentioned towel smoothing rollers 3Ia, 31b and 310 are rotatably mounted between a pair of support brackets3ld and 3le which are respectively secured to the side plates 30a and 3% by means of a plurality of screws 42. These brackets are provided with hearing holes for rotatably supporting the shafts of the'smoothing rollers 3 la, SH) and 3h: in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7. Each of the smoothing rollers 3m, 3lb and Me is provided with a highly polished surface in order to smooth out any of the folds or wrinkles in the toweling as it isdrawn over the three rollers.

As previously noted, the major portion of the unwinding and folding mechanism 24 is supported between the upper ends'of the two rear channel members 2lo and 2 id. The casing for this portion of the folding mechanism includes the main supporting plate 35 to which the trough assembly 30 is securely fastened by means of the bolts 39. The details of this casing will now be considered. Referring to Fig. 3, which is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the left and right-hand side plates 36a and 361) are respectively the front and rear plates of the mechanism, asseen in Fig. 1. By referring to Figs. 5 and 7,-it will be seen that a panel 43. is secured to the'side plates 36'a-and 36bby aplurality of screws 44' and that it encloses the right-hand side and the'top of the mechanism. Particular attention i directed to the fact that an upstanding hp 4301. is formed in the panel 43, as is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, in order to form a guide member for the frame of the motor 85.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will benote'd that a baflle plate 45 is secured to the left-hand plate 3611 by means of a plurality of screws 45rd and the opposite end of the bafil'e plate is secured in a like manner to the side plate 33b. The baffle plate 45 extends from the inner top portion of the casing downwardly to a point which is-located slightly above the surface of the pressure roller 33. This bafil'e is provided to assist the operator in threading the toweling between the rollers 32 and 33. Finally, the casing for the folding mechanism is provided with a guide member 46 which extends the entire distance between the side plates 36a and 36b and is secured between the main support plate 35 and the trough assembly 30 by means of the bolts 39. This guide member 46 is formed at its upper end to direct the toweling into engagement with a predetermined portion of the periphery of the driven roller 32. In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the moving parts of the folding mechanism'are substantially enclosed by the casing except for the opening provided therein to permit the operator to feed the leading edge of the toweling to the driven roller 32 and the opening in the bottom portion to permit the machine to direct the toweling to the work surface 23.

The manner in which the driven roller 32 is rotatably supported upon the respective side plates 36a and 3517 will now be described. Referring to Fig. 8, which discloses a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5, it will be seen that the driven roller 32 comprises a sleeve 32a which may, for example, be aluminum and a pair of hub members 321) and 320 secured thereto and having threaded holes therein whereby the roller may be rigidly secured to a shaft 32d by means of set screws 32c. The

entire surface of the sleeve 32a is covered by av layer of synthetic rubber 32 which has the quality of resisting deterioration as a result of contact with petroleum products.

The Ieftend of the shaft 32d extends through an opening in the side plate 33a and it is rotatably supported in the opening by means of a roller bearing 329. The roller bearing 329', in

' turn, issupported on the side plate 36a by means of a bearing retainer cap 32b. The opposite end of the shaft 32d extends through a corresponding opening in the side plate 36b and is rotatably supported in the opening by means of a roller bearing 321' and a bearing retainercap 327'. The above mentioned bearing retainer caps 32h and 321' are rigidly secured to the plates 36a and 3627 by means of machine screws (not shown).

The right-hand end of the shaft 32d extends through the bearing retainer cap 327 and two drive pulleys 41 and 48 are secured thereto by means of the set. screws 41a and'48a.

In view of the above description of the details of the driven roller 32 and the method of rotatably mounting the same between the side plates 36a. and 36b, it should beunderstood that the roller 32, the pulley 41 and the pulley 48 are rigidly secured to the shaft. 32d and that they will all rotate at the same speed during the operationfiof. the towel folding mechanisrm...

The manner in which the pressure roller 33 is pivotally mounted at opposite ends upon the respective plates 36a and 361) will now be described. Referring to Fig. 4, which discloses a partial sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 5, it will be seen that the pressure roller 33 comprises a sleeve 33a which may, for example, be alumimum, and a pair of hub members, such as the hub member 3322, secured thereto and having threaded holes therein whereby the roller may be rigidly secured to a shaft 33d by means of set screws 33e. The entire surface of the sleeve 33a is covered by a layer of synthetic rubber 33; which has the quality of resisting deterioration as a result of contact with petroleum products. Since only one end of the pressure roller 33 is disclosed in Fig. 4, it may be well to mention at this time that the opposite end thereof is exactly the same as that disclosed and the corresponding parts are identified by the same numerical designations but the suffix letter b has been substituted for the letter a.

The pivotal mounting arrangement for the pressure roller 33 includes a tension arm 49a, a shoulder screw 50a, a washer 51a and a nut 52a. As is illustrated in Fig. 4, the shoulder screw 53a is inserted through a bearing hole in the tension arm 43a and then through a corresponding opening in the side plate 36a. The washer Sla and the nut 52a are provided in order to fasten the shoulder screw 50a in place upon the side plate 35a. Attention is directed to the fact that the bearing hole in the tension arm 49a is slightly larger than the shoulder portion of the shoulder screw 50a in order to permit the tension arm 49a to rotate freely about the pivot point formed by the shoulder screw. The pivotal mounting arrangement for the opposite end of the pressure roller 33 is exactly the same as that described above and, for the purpose of this disclosure, the corresponding parts have the same numerical designations but the suifix letter 1) has been substituted for the letter a.

The lower end of the tension arm 43a is formed as a bearing cap and it is adapted to retain the roller bearing 53a therein so that the pressure roller 33 is rotatably secured in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The upper end of the tension arm 49a is provided with a hole which is adapted to receive one end of a tension spring 54a, as is more clearly illustrated in Figs. and 7. The other end of the tension spring 54a is secured to the panel 43 by means of a screw eye 55a, an

adjusting nut 56a and a washer 53a. The adjusting nut 55a is provided so that the tension of the spring 54a may be readily adjusted. In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the tension spring 54a normally tends to rotate the tension arm 49a in a clockwise direction about the pivot point formed by the shoulder screw 50a and thus tends to maintain the pressure roller 33 in engagement with the driven roller 32 as is best illustrated in Fig. '7.

A description will now be given of the oscillating mechanism 34 for guiding the web of toweling, as it is fed from between the driven roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, so that it falls upon the work surface in folded or zigzag layers. The 0scillating mechanism 34 includes a pair of spaced apart spreader plates 58a and 58b, 2. pair of links 63a and 631), a yoke 66 and a crank H, as is illustrated in Fig. 6.

The spreader plates 58a. and 581) are respectively mounted for independent pivotal movement at their upper ends as is illustrated in Figs.

3 and '7. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the spreader plate 58a is provided with a pair of hinges 59a and 60a. Referring specifically to the hinge 59a, it will be noted that it is secured to the spreader plate 58a by means of screws, rivets or the like, and it is formed at its upper end with a bearing hole which is in alignment with a stud 61a formed in the side plate 36a. The stud Gla is tapped to receive a threaded shoulder portion of a hinge bolt 62a. When the hinge bolt 62a is screwed into the stud 61a, the right end thereof extends into the bearing hole in the upper portion of the hinge 59a and forms the shaft upon which the spreader plate 581; is pivoted. Consequently, the spreader plate 580. is pivotally mounted upon the extended portion of the hinge bolt 62a. The hinge 59a is also formed at its lower end with an additional bearing hole, as is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9, to receive one end of a link member 63a whereby the spreader plates 58a and 531.") are linked together for oscillatory movement.

Before discussing the manner in which the link member 63a is secured to the spreader plates 58a. and 58b, attention is directed to the fact that the hinge Elia, provided at the right upper end of the spreader plate 53a, as is seen in 3, is substantially identical to the hinge member 53a and is pivotally mounted upon the side plate 3% by means of the stud 6 lb and the hinge bolt 82b in substantially the same manner as the hinge 59a is pivotally mounted upon the side plate 38a. At this point it may be well to mention the fact that the spreader plate 58?), Figs. 5, 7 and 9, is identical to the spreader plate 530. and that it is pivotally supported in exactly the same manner upon the side plates 35a and 382).

In order to retain the spreader plates 53a and 53b in substantially parallel relationship as they are oscillated back and forth about the pivot points formed by the hinge bolts 62a and 6212, the link member 63a is pivotally secured at opposite ends in the bearing holes provided in the lower portions of the hinges 59a and 60a by means of the pivot pins 64a and 64b. The pivot pin 640. extends through a bearing hole in the link member 63a and through the bearing hole provided in the lower portion of the hinge member 5311. In order to properly lubricate the bearing holes and the pivot pin noted above, an oil or grease fitting 65a may be provided, as is best illustrated in Fig. 3. One end of the link mem ber 3311. is pivotally secured to the spreader plate 38a in the manner described above and the opposite end thereof, as is illustrated in Fig. 9, is pivotally secured to the corresponding hinge provided on the spreader plate 5%. Consequently, the spaced apart spreader lates 58a and MD are retained in substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other by means of the link members 63a and 8312 even though they are oscillated back and forth.

Before describing the manner in which the spreader plates 58a and 581) are oscillated, attention is directed to the fact that a link memher 631) is provided at the right-hand end of the spreader plates 58a and 5%, as seen in Fig. 3, and it is pivotally mounted on the hinge 63a in the same manner as the link 63a is mounted on the hinge 53a. Consequently, the two ends of the spreader plates 58a and 581) are respectively linked together by means of the links 63a and 8311.

Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that a yoke 66 is provided for simultaneously controlling the oscillatory movement of the spreader plates 58a and 58b. The yoke 66 formed with two spaced apart arms 65a and 6617 which are respectively secured to the mid-points of the link members 63a and 631) by means of shoulder pivot screws 61a and 61b. The shoulder pivot screw GIa'is inserted through the central bearing hole in the link 63a and. then through a roller bearing 63a provided in the arm 66a of the yoke 66. The end of the shoulder pivot screw 61a extends beyond the roller bearing 68:: and a bearing retaining end washer 69a and a locking nut 10a, pivotally secure the arm 66a of the yoke 66 to the mid-point of the link 63a. The opposite arm 66b of the yoke 66 is also pivotally secured to the link 63b in an identical manner.

Referring again to Fig. 6, it willbe seen that the yoke 66 is also formed with a control arm 560 which is pivotally mounted on a crank H. The pivotal mounting for the control arm 66c and the crank 11 includes a crank pin 11, a roller bearing H b, a spacer washer Tie, a thrust washer Nd and a locking nut H a. With this arrangement the freeor extended end of the crank 71 and the control arm We may freely rotate with respect to one another, under control of a rotatable crank shaft 12.

The crank 1| is rigidly secured to theleft end of the crank shaft 12 by means of a tapered pin 13 which is driven through appropriate holes provided respectively in the crank H and the crank shaft 12. In order to minimize vibration of the crank shaft 72 at the end thereof which carries the crank H, a crank shaft bearing bracket 14 is secured to the panel :43, by means of a'plurality of screws 15, and a roller bearing 16, supporting the crank shaft 12, is secured in the crank shaft bearing bracket Ml The right end of the crank shaft 72 extends through an appropriate opening in the side plate 36b and rigidly supports a drive gear 1! which is secured thereto by means of a set screw 71a. In order to provide an adequate bearing for the crank shaft 12 at the point where it passes through the side plate 36b, a bearing mounting plate 18 is fastener to the outside surface of the side plate 36b by means of a plurality of screws 18a and a roller bearing 1822 on the crank shaft 12 is retained in place in the bearing mounting plate '18.

In view of the foregoing detailed description of the apparatus for linking the spreader plates 58a and 58b to the drive gear 11, it will be underderstood that when the crank shaft 12 is rotated by the drive gear 11 the circular movement of the free end of the crank H will cause the yoke 66, the links 63a and 63b and the spreader plates 58a and 58b to oscillate back and forth. The links 63a and 63b maintain the spreader plates 58a and 58b in substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other as they pivot back and forth on their hinged pivot points.

By referring to Figs. and 13, it will be seen that the bearing mounting plate 18, which sup ports the roller bearing 78b for the crank shaft 12, is formed at its upper end to provide a mounting for a pinion shaft 19. The pinion shaft 19 is rigidly secured in an opening in the upper portion of the plate 13 and a pinion gear '80 anda pulley '81 are mounted in-interlocked relationship upon a sleeve bearing 82 of phosphor bronze, or the like, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 19. The rotatable pulley 8|, the pinion gear '80, and the sleeve bearing82 are retained in place upon the pinion shaft 19 by the retaining collar 83 and the set screw 83a. In order to lubricate the sleeve bearing '82 for the pulley 8i and the pinion gear 80, the pinion shaft 19 is provided with an oil passage and an oil fitting 84. By referring to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that the pinion gear engages the drive gear 77 and, since the latter gear is rigidly secured to the crank shaft 12, rotationof the pinion gear 80 will rotate the crank shaft H.

A motor is secured to the top panelof the unwinding and 'folding mechanism, as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, and a drive pulley 86 is rigidly secured to the shaft of the motor.- The drive pulley 86, in turn, is coupled to the pulley 41 on the driven roller shaft 32d by means of a V-shaped belt 81. Accordingly, rotation of the pulley 86 under control of the motor 85 will rotate the pulley 47 and the driven roller 32.

In addition to the foregoing, the pulley 48, which is also rigidlysecured to the driven roller shaft 32d, is coupled to the pulley 8! rotatably mounted on the pinion shaft 19 by means of a V-shaped belt 88. Consequently, the rotation of the pulley 48 controls the rotation of the pulley 8|. The pulley 8|, in turn, is directly coupled to the pinion gear 80, as previously noted, and is also rotatably mounted upon the pinion shaft 19. Rotation of the pulley 81 causes a corresponding rotation of the pinion gear 80 and the latter gear, in turn, causes rotation of the drive gear 7'! which is rigidly secured to the crank shaft 12. In this'manner the rotary movement of the pinion gear 80 is transferred to the crank shaft 12. As the crank shaft 12 revolves, the crank ll causes the yoke '66 to move back and forth in a piston-like manner and thereby causes a definite predetermined oscillatory action of the spreader plates 58a and 58b.

It may be well to mention at this time that since the pressure roller 33 is maintained in engagement with the surface of the rotating driven roller 32, due to the tension of the tension springs 54a and 541) on the tension arms 49a. and 4%, the pressure roller 33 revolves at the same speed as the driven roller 32. In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the motor 85 drives the various parts, enumerateda'bove, during normal operation of the mechanism. A guard cover 89 is placed over the exposed pulleys, gears and belts in order to protect the operator of the machine.

With themotor 85 driving the various parts of the mechanism in the manner described above, the machine is in condition to fold the web of a roll of toweling 40 into predetermined fiat layers upon the work surface 23. The operator of the machine, upon receiving a soiled roll of toweling, places the roll 40 into the trough assembly 30 with the outer free end of the web of the roll in engagement with the towel trough 30d so that the web will be withdrawn from the roll in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 7. The web of the toweling is then threaded over the smoothing roller so, then under the smoothing roller 31b, and then over the top of the smoothing roller 3lc.

After the web of the toweling has been threaded through the smoothing rollers, in the manner described above; the end of the toweling is then drawn over the open top of the trough assembly 30 and the roll of toweling 40 placed therein and is inserted between the adjacent surfaces of the driven roller 32 and the pressure roller 33. When the last mentioned operation is performed, the driven when will then pull the web of the toweling through the machine and cause it to drop upon the work surface 23.

It may be well to mention at this time that since the web of the toweling is now between the adjacent surfaces of the driven roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, the tension of the pressure roller 33 against the web of the toweling permits the driven roller 32 to pull the web of the toweling without slippage, and feed it through the space between the oscillating spreader plates 58:: and 58b. Inasmuch as the spreader plates 58a and 5817 are oscillating between extreme left and right positions, as seen in Fig. 7, the web of the toweling is directed upon the work surface 23 so that it automatically falls in folded layers. The three smoothing rollers Ma, 3!?) and 3h: smooth out the wrinkles and folds in the roll toweling 40 as the web thereof is pulled over the polished surfaces of these rollers.

Since the rate at which the toweling is fed through the spreader plates 58a and 58b and the rate at which the spreader plates 58a and 58?) are oscillated are predetermined by the diameter of the various pulleys and gears, it will be understood that the speed at which the motor 85 is operated may be varied considerably without altering the lengths of the folded layers of toweling deposited upon the work surface 23. In other words, the ratio between the speed of rotation of the driven roller 32 and the number of oscillations of the spreader plates 53a and 58?) remains substantially constant regardless of variations in the speed at which the motor 85 is operated.

When the roll toweling is finally deposited in folded layers upon the work surface 23, the machine operator may then gather the folded layers at one or more points between the ends thereof in order to fold the layers one or more times in a direction parallel to the sides of the toweling. The operator of the machine may then slide the toweling from the work surface 23 into the V- shaped brackets 29a, 29b and 290 secured along the front edge of the work surface 23.

After this operation is performed it may be convenient for the operator to place another soiled roll of toweling into the trough assembly 30 and thread the web of the toweling into the unwinding and folding mechanism in the manner described previously. The machine will then perform the folding operation on the second roll during the time that the operator disposes of the folded toweling which has been placed in the V- shaped brackets. The toweling which has been deposited into the v-shaped brackets may now be loosely bound by a cord and tied at one or more points between the ends thereof, for example, at points adjacent the V-shaped brackets 29a and 29b, in order to form a relatively compact bundle. The bundles of toweling which have been prepared in this manner, may now be collected and deposited into a washing machine for laundermg.

The construction of the web unwinding and feeding mechanism and the method of unwinding and feeding the web of a roll of toweling for zigzag folding are claimed in a copending divisional aigsplication Serial No. 251,557, filed October 16,

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

I 1. In a folding machine for continuously folding a Web of textile material comprising in combinaticn, a drive roller for feeding said web, a pressure roller maintaining said web in engagement with said drive roller, a pair of pivoted members vertically suspended from their pivots, said rollers being positioned above the space between said pivoted members to direct said web vertically from said rollers between said pivoted members, and means for simultaneously oscillating said pivoted members so that they are maintained substantially parallel to one another to engage opposite surfaces of said web alternately.

2. In a folding machine for continuously folding a web of textile material comprising in combination, a drive roller for feeding said web, a pressure roller maintaining said web in engagement with said drive roller, a pair of independently pivoted plates vertically suspended from their pivots and spaced apart from one another to permit said web to pass therebetween, said rollers being positioned above the space between said pivoted plates to direct said web vertically from said rollers between said plates, and means for simultaneosuly oscillating said plates so that they are maintained substantially parallel to one another to engage opposite surfaces of said web alternately as said web passes therebetween.

3. In a foldin machine, a pair of rollers for feeding a web of fabric, a first member pivotally supported adjacent one surface of said web, a second member pivotally supported adjacent another surface of said web, said first and second pivotally supported members being suspended from their pivots substantially parallel to each other and said rollers being positioned above the space between said members, a link interconnecting said members to maintain said parallel relationship of said members, and means simultaneously rotating at least one of said rollers to vertically direct said web between said first and second members and to oscillate said link so that said first and second members engage adjacent surfaces of said web alternately.

4. In a folding machine, a roller for feeding a web of material, a pair of pivoted plates vertically suspended from their pivots, said plates being p0 sitioned parallel to each other and on opposite sides of said web and said roller being positioned above the space between said pivoted plates to direct said web vertically from said roller between said plates, a link member interconnecting said plates to maintain said parallelism of said plates, and means for rotating said roller to feed said web between said plates and for controlling said link member to simultaneously oscillate said plates to engage opposite surfaces of said web alternately.

5. In a folding machine, a roller for feeding a web of textile material, a pair of plates positioned parallel to each other and on opposite Sides of said web, a pivotal mounting for each of said plates vertically suspending each of said plates from their pivots, a link member interconnecting said plates at points remote from and substantially equidistant from said pivotal mountings, a work surface for said machine located below said plates, said roller being positioned above the space between said pivoted plates to direct said web vertically from said roller between said plates, and means for rotating said roller to feed said web between said plates and for controlling said link member to simultaneosuly oscillate each of said plates on said pivotal mountings, whereby said plates engage opposite surfaces of said web alternately to direct said web as it passes therebetween to fall in zigzag layers upon said work surface.

6. In a folding machine, a roller for feeding a web of textile material, a pair of pivoted plates positioned parallel to each other and on opposite sides of said web, a pivotal mounting for each of said p ates vertically suspending each of said plates from their pivots, a link member interconnecting said plates at points removed from and substantially equidistant from said pivotal mountings, a work surface for said machine located below said plates, said roller being positioned above the space between said pivoted plates to direct said web vertically from said roller between said plates, means for rotating said roller at a predetermined rate to feed said web between said plates, and means connected to said link member simultaneously swinging each of said plates back and forth about said pivotal mountings at a different predetermined rate to control said plates to engage opposite surfaces of said web alternately as said web passes therebetween, whereby said web falls in zigzag layers of predetermined lengths upon said work surface.

7. In a folding machine for continuously folding a web of textile material upon a work surface, a first member, a second member spaced apart from said first member and parallel thereto, pivotal mountings for each of said members vertically suspending each of said plates from their pivots, a link member interconnecting said members at points remote from and substantially equidistant from said pivotal mountings, a crank, means positioned above the space between said pivoted members for feeding said web downwardly between said first and second members to a work surface, means coupling said feeding means and said crank for simultaneously rotating said crank as said feeding means feeds said web, and means interconnecting said crank and said link for simultaneously oscillating said first and second members in predetermined arcs about their respective pivotal mountings in order to control said first and second members to engage opposite surfaces of said web alternately as it is fed therebetween so that said web falls upon said work surface in zigzag folds of predetermined lengths.

8. In a folding machine for continuously folding a web of textile material upon a work surotally mounting said first member vertically suspending said first member from its pivot, means pivotally mounting said second member vertically suspending said second member from its pivot and spaced apart from and parallel to said first member, a link interconnecting said members at points remote from and substantially equidistant from said pivotal mountings, a control arm connected at one end to said link, a crank secured to the opposite end of said control arm, means positioned above the space between said pivoted members for feeding said web downwardly between said first and second members to a work surface, means coupling said feeding means and said crank simultaneously rotating said crank as said feeding means feeds said web, said crank in response to rotation thereof actuating said control arm and said link to simultaneously oscillate said first and said second members in predetermined arcs about their respective pivotal mountings in order to direct said web to said work surface in zigzag folds of predetermined lengths.

9. A folding machine comprising a pair of substantially upstanding members arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation, means pivotally mounting each of said members adjacent to the upper ends thereof for pivoted movements in said lateral directions, link means for maintaining said members parallel to one another during pivoted movement, means positioned above the space between said pivoted members for feeding an elongated web of material vertically between said members adjacent to the upper ends thereof and downwardly therebetween, a support arranged below the lower ends of said members, and means for controlling said link means to move said members laterally about said'mounting means into alternate engagements with the oppositesides of said web in order to direct said web into a folded stack upon said support.

10. In a folding machine for continuously folding a web of textile material comprising in combination, a pair of substantially upstanding plates arranged laterally in parallel spaced-apart relation, means pivotally supporting the upper ends of each of said plates for pivoted movement in said lateral directions, drive means including rollers arranged above each of said plates with the surface of each roller immediately adjacent the upper edge of the associated plate for feeding the web of said material between said plates and downwardly therebetween, a work surface arranged below said plates and in the path of said material, and means including a link member secured to said plates and. controlled by said drive means for moving said plates substantially parallel to one another in unison in said lateral directions about said pivotal supporting means into alternate engagements with opposite surfaces of said Web in order to swing said web back and forth as it is fed therebetween to cause it to fall in folded layers upon said work surface.

11. In a folding machine, a roller for feeding a Web of material, a pair of pivoted elongated plates vertically suspended from their pivots, said plates being positioned parallel to one another and on opposite sides of said web, a first link member and a second link member interconnecting said plates at opposite-ends thereof to maintain said parallelism of said plates, a yolk connected to each of said links, said roller being positioned above the space between said pivoted plates to direct said web vertically from said roller between said plates, and means for rotating said roller to feed said Web between said plates and for controlling said yolk to simultaneously actuate said first and second link members in order simultaneously to oscillate said plates in said parallel relation to alternately engage opposite surfaces of said web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,446,494 Brenner Feb. 27, 1923 1,463,918 Burroughs Aug. 1923 1,790,559 Swift, Jr. Jan. 27, 1931 1,858,073 Cole May 10, 1932 2,216,655 Smith et a1. Oct. 1, 1940 2,404,421 Wooster July 23, 1946 2,495,994 Ward et a1. Jan. 31, 1950 

